Patricia PacJac Carroll [Carroll - An Agent for Arabella

1871, Denver

Arabella Powers tucked the blanket around her twin sister, Anabella. Lung disease, the doctor had said. Arabella gazed out the window to the Rocky Mountains and prayed her sister would recover. For Anabella, having the disease had saved her from a horrible life as a bought woman in Mexico, but now she was in a different fight for her life. Shed gone to Brownsville, Texas, to be a mail order bride not knowing her intended had sent letters to many cities and collected mail order brides to send to Mexico for a healthy price.

Fortunately for Anabella, she contracted the lung disease and was kept separate from the others in the hope she would recover which gave Arabella time to rescue her with the help of Pinkerton agents Seth and Charity Warren.

Anabella weakly reached for her hand. Ara dont worry about me. I want you to live your life.

Arabella kissed her sister goodbye. Dear Ana, youre always thinking of others. I promise Ill get on with my life as soon as I see that youre taken care of. It didnt take long, and her sister fell asleep. Arabella reluctantly left her in the large room of hospital beds in the sanitorium.

On the way out, Dr. Newsome, the head of the hospital in Denver, stopped her. Miss Powers, I dont want to be the bearer of bad news, but we do expect you to pay for your sisters care.

By the mans stone-face, Arabella doubted hed cracked a smile in twenty years, but then perhaps dealing with such tragic circumstances led to his demeanor. I will pay for her care. Somehow . She looked around the unfamiliar city as if to find an answer.

Dr. Newsome shook her hand. Lets hope the treatments work. Good day.

Arabella left the building and took in a deep breath and was thankful that she could. She had so much to be thankful for, but how was she going to pay for the treatments? Her thoughts drifted to Charity and Seth. Charity had been hired as a Pinkerton agent by the head of the Denver office.

Arabella thought back to the ordeal shed gone through to rescue her sister and smiled to herself. I can do that. After all, I figured out what that horrible man Ana had gone to was up to. Arabella dashed down the street and into a local diner and asked where the Pinkerton agency was located. Getting the information, she walked by the directions shed been given.

It was only a twenty-minute walk when she saw the sign. A little foreboding, but she didnt have the option to walk on by. Ana needed her, and she wasnt about to let her down. Dr. Newsome thought her sister had a chance, and Arabella was going to do everything in her power to give her that chance.

Pushing down her trepidation, she knocked on the door.

Before she finished knocking, a big gentleman, to use the term very loosely, swung open the door and rushed out muttering.

Arabella went inside and heard more shouts and angry words. She almost spun around to leave until she thought of Ana. Her poor sister had no choice. Pulling her shoulders back, Arabella walked to the desk where a pleasant looking woman sat.

In fact, the woman seemed to be oblivious to the shouting.

Arabella cleared her throat.

Looking up from her desk, the woman beamed a smile. Hello, Im Marianne Chapman.

Arabella Powers.

Looking a little confused, Marianne rummaged through her papers. Did you contact me earlier?

No, Maam. I heard you were hiring women.

Looking up at her, Mariannes smile diminished a bit. I see. Do you have qualifications?

Im smart. I helped your agents, Seth and Charity Warren, rescue my sister.

Oh, yes. Thats where I know your name from. You were the client. She put a pencil to her lip. Can you shoot a gun?

My father taught us to. Shotgun mostly.

You can read?

Yes. Proficiently.

Let me talk to Mr. Gordon, the lead agent. Marianne disappeared in the room where all the arguing was going on.

Arabella stepped away from the desk and studied the walls filled with awards and letters of commendation. Seems Mr. Archibald Gordon was quite the success. One frame contained a civil war medal. Another a letter from Allan Pinkerton himself.

Waiting, she sat on the divan under the framed letters and prayed. This had to work. There were no other jobs she was suited for that would make the amount of money an agent would be paid.

Marianne came out of the room and shut the door as the shouts resumed. I think we can use you. Are you physically fit?

Yes. My family owned a store, and I am used to hard work. She left out that her father had died, and theyd lost the family business. Being a woman in a mans world had its liabilities.

You arent married or with child?

No. Truth was shed never come close to being married. Once the store was taken from them, she and her sister had nothing. One older man had made inquiries about Anabella, and that led her sister to answer the letter to the man in Texas to be his mail order bride.

Come back tomorrow. Marianne paused. I do have to tell you. What Mr. Gordon has decided is that the women are paired with a seasoned agent and then they are married. Now the marriage can be annulled, as long as you dont, well, you know. After the cases have been solved, you are free to go your separate ways or remain married.

Married? Thats an odd way to do business.

Yes, but it is a protection for the women.

Arabella looked the woman in the eye. I will be paid my own wages?

Marianne shuffled through some papers. Oh, yes. Of course.

Thinking of her sister, Arabella put her hand down to stop the woman from shuffling the papers. I have responsibilities and will be counting on that pay.

With a shocked look on her face, Marianne nodded. I understand. Yes, you will be paid. It wont be the same amount as the man because youre in training.

Thats fair enough. Arabella relaxed. She would take care of Ana, even if it came at the high cost of marrying a man she didnt know. How ironic, she thought. The reason she was doing this was because her sister had gone off to marry a man she hadnt known. Arabella said a quiet prayer asking the Lord to be with her. Do I choose which agent I marry?

Shaking her head, Marianne flipped through some papers. No, my dear. Im afraid that is a job for Archie, that is Mr. Gordon. But he has done a very good job so far, and most of the agents have been quite happy with the arrangements.

The door behind Marianne opened and slammed. A rugged man stormed out, glared at her, and yelled. No way will I trade my freedom for a job. And in a rush of wind and curses, he was gone.